Two different lines, processing times for family petitions
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I am a green card holder, and petitioned my adult single child in June 2015 in the F-2B category. When I recently checked the USCIS website for…
Read More
Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage
A STEPPARENT may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an…
Electronic addicts
Advances in science and technology bolster progress in almost all facets of human endeavor, making most (unfortunately, not all) people more comfortable, more efficient, and productive, not to mention other…
Duterte vows to ‘uncover truth’ behind Mamasapano tragedy
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has pledged to “uncover the truth” behind the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that claimed lives of 44 police commandos three years ago. While admitting that…
First Annual Love of Country Global Ambassadors Program Officially Launched In The USA
“You’re never too old or too young to pursue your dreams and goals. Accomplishing great things is not impossible.” As part of their continued mission to empower Overseas Filipinos and…
California updates: Part 1
Audit Issues: If you claim deductions for medical expenses, charitable contributions, and employee business expenses in Schedule A of your Federal Form 1040 do not be surprised if you received…
Can the family court deny a custodial mom’s enforcement of a child support order against dad? In this case, grandparents were actually taking care of child
IN the case of In re Marriage of Wilson, the Mother was attempting to enforce child support arrears against the Father for the period in which the child was not…
7 Fil-Am medical missionaries dead in Cebu after car crash
A weekend getaway in Cebu quickly turned into a tragedy after seven Filipino-American medical missionaries were killed in a car crash in the nearby town of Alegria last weekend. On…
Palace defends decision to grant China research access in PH rise
Malacañang on Tuesday, January 23, has defended its earlier decision allowing China to carry out research in the Philippine Rise, formerly referred to as Benham Rise, which is located off…
Aquino admits mistake over claim that Ona attended Sanofi meeting
Former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has admitted that he made a “mistake” when he claimed that former Health Secretary Enrique Ona was present during his meeting with Sanofi…
Alvarez on zero budget threat: ‘It was a joke’
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has dismissed his recent threat to cut the budget of lawmakers who will oppose the proposed shift to a federal form of government as a mere…
Retrieval of ballot boxes on Marcos poll protest begins
The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has begun the retrieval of ballot boxes in the province of Camarines Sur on Tuesday, January 23. Camarines Sur…
Duterte denies hand in pork barrel claims against ‘friend’ Drilon
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has denied that he had anything to do with the allegations tagging Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon in the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also…
PH formally turns down P380-M EU aid
THE Philippine government has formally rejected assistance projects amounting to at least P380 million or 6.1 million euros being offered by the European Union (EU), according to EU Ambassador to…
Pilot from California gets life in prison for buying and raping Filipino children
A Sacramento man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, January 23, after being convicted for buying Filipino children for pornography and sex — federal prosecutors described the case as…
Filipina accused of passport fraud in Las Vegas
A 41-year-old Filipina may face up to 20 years in jail if proven guilty after she was arrested for allegedly forging IDs and passports in Las Vegas. The woman, who…
US Congress passes bill to end gov’t shutdown
Vote for DACA fix, CHIP reauthorization pushed back to February 8 After receiving backlash for allowing the government to shut down on Friday, January 19, a bipartisan group of United…
Palace defends decision to grant China research access in PH rise
Malacañang on Tuesday, January 23, has defended its earlier decision allowing China to carry out research in the Philippine Rise, formerly referred to as Benham Rise, which is located off…
Duterte tells troops: ‘Shoot me if I become a dictator’
President Rodrigo Duterte has told the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to shoot him if he becomes a dictator or stays in power…
Aquino admits mistake over claim that Ona attended Sanofi meeting
Former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has admitted that he made a “mistake” when he claimed that former Health Secretary Enrique Ona was present during his meeting with Sanofi…
Alvarez on zero budget threat: ‘It was a joke’
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has dismissed his recent threat to cut the budget of lawmakers who will oppose the proposed shift to a federal form of government as a mere…
Retrieval of ballot boxes on Marcos poll protest begins
The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has begun the retrieval of ballot boxes in the province of Camarines Sur on Tuesday, January 23. Camarines Sur…
Duterte denies hand in pork barrel claims against ‘friend’ Drilon
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has denied that he had anything to do with the allegations tagging Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon in the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also…
El Cerrito swears in its first Fil-Am, LGBT mayor
El Cerrito’s first Filipino-American and LGBT councilmember became the city’s first Fil-Am and LGBT mayor on Tuesday, December 19 during the reorganization of the city council at El Cerrito City…
Food retailer client seeks Chapter 7 relief
THE client is a specialty food retailer who started operations in a commercial center two years ago. Five partners invested $50,000 each for a total of $250,000 for a food…
Is obesity protected under disability discrimination laws?
KETRYN Cornell has been diagnosed as severely obese since childhood with a body mass index of over 50. Her weight interferes with daily life functions, including bathing and walking. She…
What you should know about the new tax law Part 2: Deductions
1. MORTGAGE interest deduction has been lowered: Current homeowners can continue to deduct interest on loans of $1 million; however, new homeowners will be limited to interest on loans of…
Are you worried about filing bankruptcy?
ARE you one of many people who needs to file bankruptcy but you are afraid that it may be the worst mistake you can ever make in your life? Are…
Are Filipinos racists like Trump?
According to critics, President Donald Trump is not just a racist, he is also a barefaced liar and a coward who doesn’t have the cojones to admit his spiteful attitude…
Trump’s first year: The good, the bad, the ugly
HAS it been only a year? Seems like a long long time since business mogul and reality show star Donald J. Trump took his oath of office to be the…